Revive horticulture sector, says Mashingaidze

come up with a national strategy to revive the horticulture sector.
He said the sector was key to economic revival.
Mr Mashingaidze said this recently while addressing a stakeholder meeting in Harare.
“We are appealing to the government to assist the horticulture sector by adopting a national policy that will protect and oversee the implementation of organic agriculture.
“Our neighbours have already made strides in the promotion of organic agriculture and as a nation we are still lagging behind,” he said.
Lack of funding is one of the challenges crippling the horticulture sector, he said. “Farmers in the horticulture sector have no access to credit and are not recognised in the financial sector,” he said. At the moment 32 farming associations in Mashonaland East province are conducting training for the organic production of crops. Speaking at the same occasion, agriculture consultant, Mr Rodger Mpande, emphasised the need to create local markets so that farmers could easily access them. “The distribution process is letting down farmers. This makes it necessary to engage the wholesalers and retailers for the benefit of our farmers.
“Farmers are being robbed of their produce at Mbare Musika after travelling all the way from rural areas only to sell their cabbages at US$1 per three heads,” he commented.
The same product is later sold in local supermarkets at US$1 per head. Supermarkets buy the cabbages from Mbare Musika, which unfortunately has very poor sanitation.